Vera and Norbert Hilger had a very interesting idea in transcribing
some of Bach’s keyboard works for violin and cello. Who would have thought
that such transcriptions could work so well? After all, Bach’s keyboard
works are intensely polyphonic, and two instruments alone would reduce
that polyphony to two simple lines of melody. Yet, somehow, it works.
Their transcriptions bring out the essence of these keyboard works with
a truly unique sound.

The choice of works is interesting. One could probably
transcribe all of Bach’s keyboard music in this manner, but certain
works seem to lend themselves to this approach. The Italian Concerto
is a particularly felicitous choice. The opening movement almost sounds,
on this recording, as though it was composed for this duo, and the cello’s
pizzicato accompaniment in the second movement is quite unique. Certain
movements of the A minor Partita seem to work better than others, such
as the gigue with its energetic, contrapuntal sound.

The playing varies greatly on this disc - from the
somewhat uninspired allemande of the A minor Partita, to the resolutely
energetic courante that follows it; from the sublime sound of some of
the slower movements to the imperfect tone of the violin in several
places. The slower movements are probably the weakest, and occasionally
sound too wooden, but in most of the faster movements there is an energy
that accompanies the distinctive sound of this duo, and which brings
Bach’s music to life in a new way.

This is certainly a unique recording. While the playing
varies, the overall sound is so interesting that one can overlook the
occasional weaknesses. The Hilgers have done something very interesting
here, something definitely worth exploring for those interested in "alternative"
Bach recordings.

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